Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Roofing Services

There are a few variables involved, such as weather, proximity to trees, type of cedar, the pitch of the roof, and the quality of the installation. On average, through regular maintenance, a cedar or pine shake roof may last 40 to 50 years. Without maintenance, a new shake roof will take approximately 15-20 years before water may begin to penetrate the roofing system.

You must actually have the warranty card to have a valid warranty. That is given out at the time of installation or shortly thereafter. If you do have a valid warranty card, it is very likely a pro-rated warranty. It decreases in value 1/25th for every year the roof is on the home. It is also good for product only, and not for labour. It is only good for the original cost of the roof. If you paid $12,000 for your roof in 1990, with $7,000 of product and $5,000 in labour, the value of your year 2000 warranty claim would be worth approximately $4200. Some warranty! You will still have to pay the difference for the inflated price of cedar, compared to 1990 prices, never mind the price of installation!

Calgary and the surrounding areas are seeing some extreme temperatures this winter. Condensation can be caused by a variety of reasons; the majority are not actual roofing concerns. Please click here for more information.

Removing and replacing poor quality shakes every 5 years is by far the best way to help extend your roof’s span. Cutting tree branches away from the roof and keeping valleys and gutters clear and free-flowing also helps.

Cedar has built up natural enzymes over time that make it naturally decay resistant. Cedar is most commonly re-sawn, so the natural grains and oils of the wood are exposed to the elements, which helps longevity. Pine is tapersawn and is proven susceptible to the wood-destroying fungus. If untreated pine is left alone with no maintenance, cedar will last longer than untreated pine. Pressure Treated (CCA) Pine is not susceptible to rot and has a ¾” butt thickeness. Treated pine shakes should last 30 – 40 years with proper maintenance, which is similar to cedar.

Many factors can determine how long it takes new shakes to fade to match the original shade of the roof. These include pitch, shade trees and orientation of roof slopes, shake type, age of original roof and amount of snowfall. It can take as little as 6- 9 months to fade to 80% of the original shade of grey (on untreated shakes) on the south slopes. East and west can take up to 18 months. North elevations take the longest to fade due to the least amount of direct sunlight.

New treated shakes used to maintain an existing treated roof can match within 8 – 10 months depending on CCA treatment. Some pigments of the CCA are different depending on the manufacturer and may take up to 24 months to fade within 75% of original shade. When treated shakes are used to maintain a roof that originally had untreated pine, the colour blend will not be exact. After 2 years, most of the shakes will match within 70-80% of the original, untreated shake colour.

Depending on which maintenance option is chosen, we will extend either a 2-5 year warranty that covers the entire roof area, not just the areas we repaired.

We have been maintaining shake roofs since 1999 and our team has over 80 years of combined experience in the industry. Our warranty is exclusive. We are HAAG certified, a proud member of the AARA, and hold an A+ rating with the BBB. We have countless references (all available upon request) and a 4.8 rating on Google.

There are several reasons to maintain a roof instead of installing a new one. The 3 main reasons are:

1. If we assume 20% of the roof is deemed to be deficient, then 80% of the shakes are deemed to still be in good condition. Why dispose of perfectly good shakes in our landfills? Why remove an entire roof when not all the shakes are at the end of their lifespan? Does this make financial sense?
2. The cost of a new shake roof depends on several factors, including size, slope, type of shake, roof design, accessibility, etc. Add on bells and whistles (such as skylights), and costs can add up quickly, making a quote over the phone next to impossible for accuracy. A smaller home with a walkable pitch could cost as little as $14,000. A larger estate-style home with a steep pitched roof could balloon to upwards of $60,000 or more. The new roof will still have to be maintained every 5 years, driving these costs even higher. The maintenance route will also have a warranty attached that covers the entire roof for 20 years. A new roof should also have maintenance, so there will still be maintenance costs every 5 years.
3. Ask yourself this question: “do I plan on selling my house within the next 10 years?” If the answer is “yes” or even “maybe”, consider in most cases all the money you put into your roof you will not receive back through a sale. You might be better off maintaining the roof and putting the extra money back into your pocket.

When a new shake roof gets installed, there is a 15 lb - 18” roofing felt installed. As the shakes are laid over the top of the felt, two fasteners are installed in every shake, which penetrate the felt membrane. When shakes are removed during the maintenance process, a shake that is deemed deficient is lifted up and removed. The same holes that were made during the original installation will then be covered by the new shake, ensuring a completely leak-proof system. Shake Experts has performed successful maintenance on thousands of roofs over the years, and we’ve also offered thousands of warranties to ensure leaks are something we fix, not create.

If you actually read the “lifetime limited warranty”, you will realize their warranty is very limited at best.

With proper maintenance, a wood shake roof can actually outlast cheaper roof types, which can turn the higher cost of wood shakes into a cost-savings benefit.

When you get roof maintenance every five years, it keeps your maintenance costs down and warranties your entire roof against leaks for 5 years. If repeated, this can cover your roof for decades. If there is an established percentage of shakes that are deemed deficient and should be replaced – let’s say 20% – that leaves 80% of the shakes in good condition. Why remove a roof covering when 80% of the roof is in good condition?

Wood shakes are much more energy-efficient than asphalt shingles. This energy efficiency can save the homeowner money on heating and air conditioning bills.

Wood shakes are very durable. Unlike other materials, they are not prone to cracking due to hail. An asphalt roof on the same street may have to be replaced due to hail strikes where a shake roof may have no damage. Wood shakes can also withstand high winds much better than asphalt shingles.

Wood shakes are undeniably unique in their appearance. The unique look of wood is one of its most desired benefits.

Treated shakes do not rot. There are roofs in the Calgary area where the treated shakes are 25+ years old. A wood roof with CCA pressure treated shakes should last up to 40-50 years with proper maintenance.

Due to the outdoor nature of our work, exposure to homeowners and/or other community members is extremely limited. Coordination between our office, crews and customers is primarily via email, phone calls and contactless delivery. Click here for more information on our Covid Safety measures.